Snooze Button for Snoop: A New Dawn as the Doggfather Puts Down the Blunt

Photo Credit: Instagram/snoopdogg

It's been a rough day for fans of the sticky-icky.

In a twist that would make Willie Nelson's pigtails curl, Snoop Dogg, the iconic hip-hop maestro and marijuana connoisseur, declared on Thursday that he's bidding farewell to the art of smoking.

The announcement, made via the rapper's Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) accounts, left fans and skeptics alike wondering if the Doggfather himself is truly parting ways with the herb that has been synonymous with his persona for decades.

The unexpected revelation comes on the heels of Snoop Dogg's previous statements earlier this year, where he expressed his intention to cut down on smoking after embracing the role of grandfatherhood. The 50-year-old, whose real name is Calvin Broadus, confessed to the Daily Mail in March that becoming a grandfather prompted a profound shift in his perspective.

I’m giving up smoke. pic.twitter.com/DDVl9Syixw

— Snoop Dogg (@SnoopDogg) November 16, 2023

"Being a grandfather has changed me in multiple ways," he revealed. "The main way is being concerned with how I live, how I move, the kind of people I'm associated with because I want to see my grandkids grow old. The only way I can do that is to take precautionary steps as far as how I move, who I hang out with, where I go out, my intake, what am I intaking. Am I doing extra-curricular or am I just doing what I'm supposed to be doing?"

Snoop Dogg gives up smoking weed. What is the world turning into. @SnoopDogg we respect your decision King 👑 distraught pic.twitter.com/Lxwktwvh11

— Bhala KaDududu (@TakaLilo04) November 16, 2023

This surprising pivot from the marijuana advocate, whose name has practically become synonymous with weed, raises eyebrows and sparks curiosity about what led to this change of heart.

Can Snoop Dogg Really Quit Smoking Weed 😅

pic.twitter.com/fSnzzbwE21

— Daily Trends ✖️ (@trends_dailyU) November 16, 2023

Snoop Dogg's relationship with marijuana has been as iconic as his music career. The rapper has unabashedly celebrated his affinity for cannabis, even famously lighting up a joint while strutting down the red carpet at the MTV Movie Awards in 2021. 

His devotion to the green extends beyond recreational use; in 2015, he launched his own line of marijuana products, Leafs by Snoop. Additionally, in 2019, an Israeli start-up promoting home-grown marijuana enlisted the rapper as a brand ambassador.

Is Snoop Dogg puttin’ the weed down a sign?! pic.twitter.com/cGLFhqR58e

— Gilbert Arenas (@GilsArenaShow) November 16, 2023

As fans grapple with this unexpected twist in the Doggfather's journey, one can't help but wonder if this decision is a temporary pause or a definitive farewell to a lifestyle that has defined Snoop Dogg as much as his music has. Only time will tell if the hip-hop legend's next chapter will be written in smoke or fresh mountain air.

André 3000 Resurfaces with 'New Blue Sun': Debut Solo Album Promises Experimental Musical Odyssey

Courtesy Epic Records 

In a much-anticipated return to the music scene, André 3000, the acclaimed singer and rapper, is set to drop his debut solo album, "New Blue Sun," on Friday.

The Where's Waldo of hip-hop, known as much for random sightings in the wild by fans as his musical legacy, made the announcement on Instagram today.

Photo Credit: Instagram/andre3000

This marks André 3000's first solo project in over 17 years.

Renowned for his role in the influential duo Outkast, last released an album with "Idlewild" in 2006. Now, at 48 years old, he is ready to unveil a new musical chapter that diverges from his earlier works.

In a recent interview with NPR, André 3000 provided insights into the upcoming album, revealing that "New Blue Sun" consists of eight experimental tracks showcasing his skills with the flute and other wind instruments. The songs, described as "spontaneous compositions," were recorded after a fortuitous meeting with music producer and musician Carlos Niño.

The tracklist for "New Blue Sun" offers a glimpse into André 3000's innovative approach. Each track promises a unique and experimental musical journey, showcasing André 3000's versatility and creativity. Collaborators on the album include Nate Mercereau, Surya Botofasina, Deantoni Parks, Diego Gaeta, Matthewdavid, V.C.R, Jesse Peterson and Mia Doi Todd.

New Blue Sun Tracklist:

1. I Swear, I Really Wanted To Make A "Rap" Album But This Is Literally The Way The Wind Blew Me This Time
2. The Slang Word P(*)ssy Rolls Off The Tongue With Far Better Ease Than The Proper Word Vagina. Do You Agree?
3. That Night In Hawaii When I Turned Into A Panther And Started Making These Low Register Purring Tones That I Couldn't Control... Sh¥t Was Wild
4. BuyPoloDisorder’s Daughter Wears A 3000™ Button Down Embroidered
5. Ninety Three 'Til Infinity And Beyoncé
6. Ghandi, Dalai Lama, Your Lord & Savior J.C. / Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, And John Wayne Gacy
7. Ants To You, Gods To Who?
8. Dreams Once Buried Beneath The Dungeon Floor Slowly Sprout Into Undying Gardens

Conny Van Dyke, Trailblazing Motown Artist, Dies at 78

Conny Van Dyke, one of the first white artists signed to Motown Records, has passed away at the age of 78.

Van Dyke, who also battled colon cancer during her lifetime and suffered a stroke in 2008 that partially paralyzed her and ended her career, died of complications from vascular dementia in her Los Angeles home on Saturday.Her son, Bronson Page, confirmed the news to Variety.

The former Miss Teen USA was born in Cape Charles, Virginia, but raised in Detroit. Her entertainment career began at the age of 15 when she starred in the movie Among the Thorns opposite Tom Laughlin, Bill Wellman Jr. and Stephanie Powers.

She signed with Motown Records in 1961 after being discovered performing at a drive-in theater concession stand. Her first two singles, “Oh, Freddy,” written by Smokey Robinson, and “It Hurt Me Too,” previously written and recorded by Marvin Gaye, were released in 1963. She would later go on to release two country albums, Conny Van Dyke and Conny Van Dyke Sings for You.

“I had Marvin Gaye playing the piano for me, Stevie Wonder playing the bongos. He really was 12 years old,” Van Dyke said in an interview with comedian Skip E. Lowe, recalling her days in Motown’s recording studios. “And then I some backup singers, some girls I learned a lot from. They were a couple years older than me, not much older. … The Supremes and also Martha Reeves & The Vandellas.”

#RIP ~ Sadly #TDIM #DiedToday Nov-11-2023 Conny Van Dyke, singer, actress, one of first white artists signed to Motown, b.1945 ~ It hurt me toohttps://t.co/3WS4LGf0qO

— Make Today Rock 🇺🇦 #FBPE #FBR (@maketodayrock) November 11, 2023

Van Dyke's talents extended beyond music. She had a succesfull acting career as well. Most notably starring as Betsy, Jeremy Slate’s love interest, in the outlaw biker film Hell’s Angels '69 in 1969. Her other film roles include W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings and Framed.

She also appeared on Adam-12, Nakia, and Police Woman, and on several game shows in the 1970s, including Match Game, You Don’t Say, The Cross-Wits, The Hollywood Squares, Tattletales and The Gong Show.